Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 June 1990 from one or more of
the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence
with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W.
NETWORK 1998.
REMARKS: CRASHSITE/PRINGLE ID FOUND
SYNOPSIS: Donald Burnham was the pilot of a UH1H helicopter (#66-16442) that
departed Camp Evans, Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam for Chu Lai, Republic of
Vietnam on February 2, 1968. Also aboard were SP4 Charles Adkins, SFC Joe
Pringle, SSgt Joseph Puggi, passengers; and SP4 Kenneth Patton, crewchief.
The personnel aboard the aircraft were all members of B Troop, 1st Squad,
9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.
During a ground radar-controlled approach to Da Nang Airbase, the controller
lost radio contact with the helicopter and subsequently lost radar contact.
The last positive position of the aircraft was 12 miles north of Da Nang.
After attempts to contact Captain Burnham by radio failed, ramp checks were
conducted by another pilot from his unit. Search of the area to the north of
Da Nang failed to locate the missing aircraft.
On May 28, 1968, a crashed and burned UH1H helicopter (tail #6442) was
located in the appropriate vicinity and a search party recovered an ID tag
belonging to SFC Pringle, several weapons, and some human bones. The ID tag
and weapons were given to an unidentified major; subsequent attempts to
trace the weapons have been unsuccessful.
All human remains were given to the U.S. Army Mortuary at Da Nang, and were
subsequently determined unidentifiable. Search attempts terminated on
November 16, 1972. Because of the density of the underbrush, no attempt to
recover further remains was made. The crash site was photographed in July
1974, at which time it became known that parts of the aircraft had been
recovered by a Vietnamese woodcutter. No evidence of human remains were
found in the area.
Donald Burnham's photograph was identified by a Vietnamese rallier as having
been a prisoner of war. CIA analysis failed to determine why Burnham's photo
was selected, as neither he nor the other crew were seen by returned POWs.
If it were not for over 10,000 reports of Americans still held captive in
Southeast Asia, the families of the men aboard UH1H #6442 might be able to
give up hope of seeing their sons and brothers again. But as long as there
is evidence that even one is alive, the possibility exists that any of the
crew of the UH1H lost on February 2, 1968 could be alive.